Method of applying gold leaf



Patented Sept. 18, 1934 METHOD OF APPLYING GOLD LEAF Donald D. Swift, Hartford, Conn., and Harold E.

Roberton,

Medford, Mass,

assignors to M.

Swift & Sons, Incorporated, Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut No Drawing. Application June 29, 1933, Serial No. 678,262

22 Claims.

Our present invention relates to the printing and embossing art, and has particular reference to the application of gold leaf to leather, textile materials, and the like. i

In applying gold leaf to a surface, the surface is sized, embossed and the gold-leaf is deposited thereon, or the gold leaf is pressed in the sized work and the pressed design is then burnished, the applying dies being preferably heated. The

application of the gold leaf thus involves both pressure and heat.

The extension of gold leaf application to different materials, such as leathers of all grades, artificial and imitation leathers, and textile materials, has encountered difiiculties because of the nature of the material. Thus, a perfect application of gold leaf requires a base which is not porous, which will take a sharp impression, which lacks sufficient resilience to break up the thin gold leaf after the application pressure is removed, and which is not affected by the heat of application.

Extensive experimentation has shown that a porous base absorbs the sizing, and thus produces a surface to which the gold leaf will not completely adhere. This type of base is found in leathers of the poorer grade, as the material is coarse and porous. Moreover, the coarser grades are more springy, thus producing an uneven base. It is the principal object of our invention to devise a gold leaf backing which will not be absorbed, and will ensure a satisfactory base for the gold leaf.

Artificial and imitation leathers, on the other hand, are usually impregnated with pigments and filler material which have a tendency to run upon the application of heat, and thus prevent the formation of a satisfactory base and prevent the obtaining of a clean-cut impression. It is a further object of our invention ,to utilize a backing material that will protect the surface against the heating effect, and will thus facilitate the adherence of the gold leaf and the retention of a sharp imprint; moreover, the heat protection will increase the working range and thus extend the application of gold leaf to materials having a low melting point.

The imprinting of textile materials introduces a further problem in addition to the natural resilience of the textile fibres, in that the material is thin, and does not properly set off the gold leaf. It is therefore an additional object of our invention to utilize a backing material which will function as a backing for the gold leaf, and thus enhance the final appearance.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view, the invention consists of a novel method of forming a suitable base for a gold leaf impression, upon materials which lack the characteristics necessary for a proper gold leaf application.

We have found that the application of sizing to a material surface prior to a pressure setting of a gold leaf thereon is not sufficient to ensure a proper mounting. We have therefore, after extensive experimentation, found it advisable to utilize a filler which will function to fill up all interstices and pores of the material to be impressed, and we have found it desirable to use a material for this purpose that has heat-insulating qualities, that is sufficiently opaque to provide a good backing for the gold leaf, and that is of comminuted form, in order to produce an even, smooth mounting for the gold leaf.

This filler is preferably of the clay family, and may be a metallic oxide; the most suitable filler has been determined to be ochre, and the type known as yellow ochre has been found to meet the requirements for a satisfactory base material. Another suitable material is titanium oxide.

Preferably, the base material is added to the sizing to form a sizing and base mixture, and is applied to the surface for receiving the gold leaf, this application being prior to or subsequent to the impression. A more convenient mode of application is to utilize a prepared gold leaf carrier as described in copending application Serial No. 678,228, filed June 29, 1933, in which the gold leaf is mounted on a strip or sheet and the sizing and base mixture is made an integral part of the strip or sheet in contiguous relation to the gold leaf.

The ochre sizing thus serves as a base material which completely fills all pores and interstices of the material to be imprinted, and mattes the material surface to stop springing upward of minute portions, such as threads, etc. lvloreover, the heat resistant qualities of the ochre prevent melting and running of the material and permit gold leaf imprinting of material having a low melting point, as the ochre particles mix with the material to produce a suitable base and apparently also function as an absorbent medium.

t has been found in practice that the customary temperature range for gold leaf imprinting is from 160 F. to 250 ER, and that the addition of the ochre base extends this range to from 140 F. to 300 F., thus increasing the materials adapted for gold leaf imprinting and permitting a higher and more effective burnishing.

The fineness of the ochre powder produces a sizing mixture which dries Without being sticky, and is more resistant to heat; the fine particles provide an ideal application surface, as they do not stick up through the applied'gold leaf, and their opaque quality produces a fine backing. The resulting design is thus better in appearance,

better in Wearing quality, and is applicable to.

* sions. to the surfaces of coarse material, the. step of impressing a filler on the, material to fill the material pores and interstices.

2. In the application of metallic leaf impres sions tothe surfaces of coarse material, the step of impressing a filler on the material to matte the material surface.

3. In the application of metallic leaf impressions to the surfaces of impregnated material, the step of impressing a heat resistant filler on the material to prevent melting and running of the material.

4. In the application of metallic leaf impressions to the surfaces of impregnated material, the

.. step of impressing an absorbent:filler on the materialto prevent melting and running of the material.

..5. In the application of metallic leaf impressions to the surfaces of thin material, the step of impressing a comminuted filler and sizing on the material as a base for the metallic leaf.

6. In the application of metallic leaf impressions to the surfaces of thin material, the step,

of impressing acomminuted absorbent filler on the material to form a base. I

'7. In the application of metallic leaf impressions to the surfaces of impregnated material, the step of impressing a comminuted heat resistant filler on the material to form a base.

8. In the application of gold leaf impressions to the surfaces of compressible material, the step of impressing ochre and sizing on the material as a base for the gold leaf.

9. In the application of gold leaf impressions to the surfaces of compressible material, the step of impressing titanium oxide and sizing on the material as a base for the gold leaf.

10. In the application of metallic leaf to the surfaces of cearse or impregnated material, the

step of impressing the surface with metallic leaf backed by a sizing containing a filler:

11. In the application of metallicleaf tothe surfaces of coarse or impregnated material,:the

step of impressing the surface with metallic leaf backed'by a sizing containing a filler of heat resistantmaterial;

12. In the application of metallic leaf to the surfaces of coarse or impregnated material, the step of impressing the surface with metallic leaf backed by a sizing containing a comminuted filler.

13. In the application of metallic leaf to the surfaces of coarse or impregnated material, the step of impressing the surface with metallic leaf backed by a sizing containing a comminuted filler of ochre.

14. In the application of metallic leaf impressions to the surface of coarse material, the step of impressing a filler on the material to fill the material pores and interstices, and simultaneously impressing ametallic leaf on the filler.

15. In the application of metallic leaf impressions to the surfaces of coarse material, the step of impressing a filler on the material to matte the material surface, and simultaneously impressinga metallic leaf on the filler- 16. In theapplication of metallic leaf impres 1 sions to the surfacesof coarse material, the step ofimpress'rng a heat resistant filler on the mate- W 18. In the application of metallicleafimpressions to the surface of thin. materiahthe step of impressing a comminutedfiller and sizing on the material as a base for the metallic leaf, and simultaneously impressing a metallic leaf on said base.

19. In the application of metallic leaf'impressions to the surfaces of thin material, the step of impressing a comminuted absorbent filler on the material to form a base, and simultaneously impressing ametallic leaf on. said base.

20. In the application of metallic leaf impressions to the surfaces of impregnated material, the step of impressing acomminuted heat resistant filler on the material toforma base, and simultaneously impressing a metallic leaf on saidfbase.

21.? In the application of goldleafimpressions to the-surfacesof compressible material, the step of impressing ochre and sizing on the material as a base for the gold leaf, and simultaneously impressing gold leaf on said base.

22. In the application of gold. leaf impressions to the surfaces of'compressiblematerial, the step of impressing titanium oxide and sizing ,on the material as a base for the-gold leaf, and simultaneously impressing gold leaf. on-said-base.

DONALD D. SWIFT. HAROLD E. ROBERTON. 

